Impact of deer trustee report

For the last few years, hunters have gone back and forth with the Department of Natural Resources about how to control the deer herd.

The DNR tried to manage the herd using things like Earn-a-Buck, where hunters had to shoot an anterless deer before they could get a buck. Hunters blamed Earn-a-Buck for the lack of deer in the woods.

This year, hunters have a bit more hope for the season.

"I'm actually feeling pretty good about this season," said Shawn Brady of Denmark.

"This year we're seeing a lot of deer, a lot more than other years, I think," added Carl Bonde of Maribel.

Many say the reason for the optimism is the man known as Dr. Deer, James Kroll.

"I am enthusiastic as all get out," Kroll said.

Last year, Kroll was named the Whitetail Deer Trustee for Wisconsin. Along with two other deer experts, Kroll put together an 82-page report that states the DNR "...has credibility problems with deer hunters..." and that the "...population goals have become meaningless."

• Click here to read the executive summary
• Click here to read the entire report

The report includes dozens of recommendations like: Ending local population estimates, which was the source of much of the conflict between hunters and the DNR; creating a Deer Management Assistance Program, where the DNR would work more closely with local groups to develop goals and gather data.

While it will take years to implement all of the recommendations in the report, Kroll says attitudes have already changed.

"The biggest change has already happened is with the public and the public attitude," Kroll said. "There is a renewed excitement out there in the Wisconsin hunting public and the land owners that I didn't feel when I came here."

• Click here for more information on public hunting lands
• Click here for more information on private lands open to the public for hunting

That change in attitude could be because of the change in approach from the DNR.

"It's less about the science and the numbers of deer and it's more about the communication and the relationship between the agency and the hunters," said
Jeff Pritzl, a regional wildlife biologist with the DNR.

The agency is already putting more focus on communication, especially through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. After spending years defending its population estimates, the DNR has done an about face.

"This deer hunting experience in Wisconsin really isn't about the numbers," Pritzl said. "And the more we focus on the numbers the more it tends to lead us down paths of discussion that really forget about the real value and the traditions and culture that deer hunting is in Wisconsin."

One man who has gone rounds with the DNR is Andy Pantzlaff.

"I have never seen the deer population anywhere near this low," Pantzlaff said back in 2009 when he was extremely frustrated with the DNR over herd management. Here is Pantzlaff today:

"They are starting to get it," he said.

Pantzlaff is part of a group called the United Sportsmen of Wisconsin. The group successfully lobbied the state legislature to eliminate the controversial Earn-a-Buck program last year. In light of the Deer Trustee's report, Pantzlaff is hopeful about the future.

"This took 20 years to break. It can't be fixed overnight," Pantzlaff said. "We, as sportsmen, are a little apprehensive because we're not seeing things more as quickly as we want to. But we are seeing a much more open department towards us."

Still, it's not all roses just yet.

"I don't think we'll ever have total peace in the deer woods. It's just not our nature to have a peaceful season where everybody is happy," said Patrick Durkin, a freelance writer who focuses on the outdoors. He says writing the report was the easy part. He says hunters can expect more battles before any of the report is put into effect.

"To implement this, you have to stay involved. You can't just assume that because this report got written and turned in to the DNR that is now going to be magically rolled out into a program that we all understand and agree with. There will still be lots of fights ahead," Durkin said.

At least for now though, there's a better sense that both sides are working together.

"We are 85 percent on the same page with mutual goals and there are issues that we're going to differ on but let's not lose sight of the fact that for the most part we're on the same team," Pritzl said.

"They need us and we need them and we both want a very strong, healthy deer herd," Pantzlaff said.

And while hunters have high hopes for the season, when it comes to the long term impact of Kroll's report, they're ever the realists.

"At least they're doing something about the deer management in Wisconsin," said Shawn Brady.

"It's nice to get a different view," Carl Bonde said. After a long pause, he added, "It's just a report."